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In the category of "You can lead a horse to water," Obama's speech pretty much achieves "Picture Next To The Dictionary Definition" status. Dear Sweet Merciful Jesus, I've never been more disspirited by public reaction to an event in a long time. It was a brilliant speech that offered an opportunity for–gasp!–honesty on a topic that actually needs addressing, and instead all the professional talkers want to do is discuss whether "Obama Got Out From Under" the artificial scandal they themselves created. "Hey, he didn't completely disown Wright–he must agree with him–man, has *this* brought his campaign to halt because we say so!" I want to weep, and yet only laughter comes…

Wow! Shocked how a potential leader of this country can sit on sermons for 20 plus years listening to ignorance and hate all while the congregation had their hands out demanding cheese from the white man. Incredible. I have been impressed with Obama so far and I quietly was intending to vote for him in the general election, however, this is bigger than any of his supposed muslim radicalism. I'm an Ameri Can first. And anything else second.

Jay
updated 23 minutes ago

Obama's mentor and spiritual advisor spouted hatred against not only whites, but America as well. Yet somehow, since I am offended by his words, I am the racist stuck back in the 50's and 60's. You know, in spite of the liberal kool-aid alot of you have had far too much of, racism isn't a problem that is limited solely to the ignorance of whites.

mary
updated 23 minutes ago

Obama, you're boring. I had to listen to history lessons my whole life and I thought you were going to answer your white hate and 20 years in that church questions. You talked nothing about your church and God Damn America. You tried to confuse us with boring words. Obama, the American people are good people and they deserve better than this.
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Well, I suppose the most important thing is that African American men still make up 60% of drug convictions while only 15% of arrests.
Justice?
Anyone who thinks institutional racism doesn't exist needs to read The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison: Ideology, Class, and Criminal Justice by Jeffrey Reiman. 'Course, that falls under the categories of "evidence" based on "research" leading to "facts"; oh well…
On a bit more meta-level, Affirmative Action serves as an ideal foil for those struggling to maintain the status quo, in that giving a leg up to a rich kid because he is African-American, for example, undermines the shining division in America: Class, thus obfuscating this actual underlying problem of all problems in America. Were there not a permanent underclass maintained by fueling infighting amongst and loathing between its members (on the bases of race, religion, geography, language, culture, education, etc.), would the "all-volunteer" military not falter, or at least not be so easily manipulated? Would our national budgetary priorities continue to read like the P&L report for the private military and energy industries?
When Clarence Thomas represents the height of African-American presence in our justice system, things are still broken.
Obama's points about fear of different types of people is right on. How many people in this country have never known a non-white, non-Christian, non-whatever person? This is who the Hannities, Beck's, Limbaughs, Dobbs et al are goosing when they invent doubts regarding Obama's intentions.

If anyone wants an intimate view into the instutionalized racism in Chicago, institutionlized racism Barack has worked under since 1985, check Arnold Hirsch's Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago, 1940-1960. This is the sort of thing that has bred the distrust, bitterness, and rage in the African-American community in Chicago.